Digital Commons Network^™

Called From Within The Community: The Vocation Of Undocumented Hispanic Men To The Diaconate, Anisabel Palma

Obsculta

This paper examines the discernment of undocumented Hispanic men to the diaconate within a diocese facing growing Hispanic populations and a shortage of Spanish-speaking clergy. Using ethnographic research, theological reflection, and historical analysis, it argues that this reality should be discerned not as a pastoral problem but as a response to concrete community needs. Interpreted through four theological perspectives (sacred vocation, divine initiative, unconventional divine choice, and the community-oriented nature of diaconal ministry) the study proposes that welcoming undocumented men into formal discernment and formation for the diaconate constitutes a faithful and ecclesial response to the Church’s mission.

Beyond The Heroic Leader: Formation For Collaborative Ministry, Graham English

Doctor of Leadership

I have served as a local church pastor for 28 years. In my current service on a denominational team that supports 500 Licensed Workers and 115 churches within the Western District of The Alliance Canada, I identified the following Need, Problem, or Opportunity (NPO): “Many leaders in The Alliance Canada lack collaborative skills, inhibiting participatory leadership, stifling innovation, and diminishing congregational empowerment to engage in God’s mission.” My research highlighted the limitations of heroic leadership in complex and rapidly evolving ministry contexts. Leadership approaches that were once effective in the church no longer align with current relational, cultural, and organizational …

A Phenomenological Study Of African-American Clergys’ Experiences With Mental Health, Rosalind R. Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutical phenomenological qualitative study was to describe African-American clergy’s lived experiences with mental health and mental health’s influence on the construction of their teachings, sermons, and church practice. The goal was to use interpretation to bring to light to an underlying coherence of actions of a group of people. This study reduced individual African-American clergy beliefs regarding mental health to a universal understanding. There were four philosophical assumptions in this study: 1) a search for wisdom to understand the phenomenon of African-American clergy’s lived experiences with mental health influence their teachings, sermons, and church practice, 2) …

Intentional Discipleship Ministry : Presenting Everyone Perfect In Christ, Maregie Belete

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Clergy Spiritual Transformation : From Depletion To Pastoral Presence, Ashlee Alley Crawford

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Ministry Mentoring Matters : Best Practices For Mentoring New Pastors, Keith Koteskey

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Calm And Quiet My Soul: A Holistic Approach To Spiritual Care For The Mothering Pastor, Alyssa Bell

Doctor of Ministry

The church has seen a growing number of women emerging as pastoral leaders, many of whom are mothering children or will mother children in the coming years. In order to thrive as ministers and parents, these women need ongoing care for their souls that addresses the many facets of their being. However, such resources are scarce in the current institutional structures and spiritual patterns suggested for this demographic of clergy. In this dissertation I argue that Pastoring mothers face unique challenges in their desire to draw closer to heart of God in the midst of meeting family and ministry needs. …

Achieving Balance In Ministry, Anthony J. Headley

Heritage Material

No abstract provided.

Leaders That Finish Well : Characteristics And Practices Of Successful Ministry, Lucian-George Rotaru

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Intuitive Wisdom In Leadership : Exploring The Exercise Of Intuitive Wisdom Among Ministry Leaders In New Zealand, Clinton J. Ussher

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Into Ministry : The Pastorals, The Early Church, And The Free Methodist Church In The Early Twenty-First Century, Jason Aaron Leininger

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Whispers From Eden: A Narrative Inquiry Into The Long-Term Influences Of The Circle Of Trust Retreats For Clergy Participants, Diane Martin Bell

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Stigma And The Acceptability Of Depression Treatments Among African American Clergy, Connie Gardner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this cross sectional study was to investigate stigma associated with depression treatments and to approximate its association with treatment acceptability among African American Clergy. There were 109 African American clergy who completed three measures: treatment specific stigma instrument, treatment acceptability instrument, and a demographic questionnaire, anonymously. Three hypotheses were tested using descriptive statistics, Mantel-Haenszel common odds ratio estimate, Pearson correlation coefficient, and ordinal logistic regression. Statistical analysis revealed stigma did increase with the expansion of the social circle; Christian mental health counseling had the highest acceptability rate among clergy not pastoral or lay counseling and there was …

A Study Of The Significant Indicators Of Spiritual And Emotional Responses Of African-American Congregations To The Transition Of The Founding Or Long-Term Senior Pastor, Cynthia Hinson Graham

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Content, Nature, And Ethics Of Pastoral Counseling By West Virginia Baptist Ministers, Nancy Landis-Taylor

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

While there is considerable literature available on pastors and the ministry and much writing concerning therapists and secular counseling as well as pastoral counseling, very little has been written concerning counseling by pastors without professional counseling training. This neglected area of research is unfortunate considering many pastors are considered or required to be counselors by their churches and denominations. In addition, there is minimal training in pastoral counseling in most seminaries, leaving many pastors to assume a role for which they may be unprepared. This exploratory study used a self-report instrument specifically developed for this research endeavor to collect information …

Men Mentoring Women : The Impact Of Male Leaders On Women Entering Vocational Christian Ministry In The Church Of God, Jesse S. Mclain

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of A Spiritual Leadership Program Based On Spiritual Disciplines On Leadership Competencies, Shih-Minh Kow

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Training Vocational Ministers In The Practice Of Spiritual Disciplines Through The Use Of David Kolb's Learning Cycle, David Paul Wilson

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Unlocking The Heart Of A Mentor : Reflections Of Mentoring By Pastors Of Large Churches , Lazarus Nelson Naicker

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Designing A Needs-Based Mentoring Program For New Pastors In The Free Methodist Church Of North America, Mike Edward Conkle

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Equipping The Equippers : A Covenant Group Training Model For Pastors, Debra Kaye Wallace-Padgett

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Redeeming The Time : Patterns Of Time Management Among Pastors Of Growing Churches, Samuel John Connell

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Nurturing The Pastor's Spiritual Discipline Of Prayer Through The Dynamic Of Spiritual Direction, Derek John Morris

Doctor of Ministry Projects

Problem

Current research demonstrates that we cannot assume that seminarians have received sufficient guidance in spiritual formation prior to the completion of their Seminary training. Therefore, there is a great need to explore ways of nurturing spiritual formation for those involved in pastoral ministry. It was the purpose of this present study to explore the potential of spiritual direction as a dynamic for nurturing the pastor's spiritual discipline of prayer.

Method

A spiritual friend, who had received training in spiritual direction, was selected with guidance from Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation. A twelve-month case study was established with the author …

Intentional Infliction Of Emotional Distress By Spiritual Counselors: Can Outrageous Conduct Be "Free Exercise"?, Lee W. Brooks

Michigan Law Review

Part I explains the extent to which courts are competent to decide the threshold question of whether particular conduct is religious. Part II describes the balancing test put forward by the Supreme Court for evaluating free exercise claims, and derives criteria relevant to spiritual counseling from cases involving such claims. Part III summarizes the pertinent criteria and reviews the ways they may be employed to systematize the treatment of spiritual counseling cases.